Trump's Got Serious GI Issues

What Happened: At the time of year when it’s expected that the President of the United States would honor America’s fallen soldiers, Donald Trump managed to shun them not once, but twice in a single week.

Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports

What Really Happened: The week started with President Trump in Europe, having decamped to France for the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. It wasn’t that he was running away from his many troubles in the US, it was that he was running toward commemorating all the American soldiers who died in Europe during the Great War.

There was just one problem with that: He ended up skipping a planned visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery on Saturday, with thecancellationofficiallyblamedon “scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather.”

He returned to the US that day, in time to be observe Veterans Day in Washington, meaning he can uphold that proud tradition of visiting Arlington National Cemetery. Because, surely, after what happened in France, he’d not skip that for any reason. (You know what’s coming next.)

CNN's Full-Court Press

What Happened: In the face of an attack on the First Amendment by the United States Government, CNN did something unexpected: It took the matter to the courts, suing the White House for shutting out reporter Jim Acosta.

Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports

What Really Happened: Perhaps you remember last week, when the White House decided to pull CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s pass for reasons that were immediately contradicted by anyone with access to un-doctored video. This week, there was a surprise when CNN went surprisingly hard in response:

The Takeaway: More partisan outlets were quick to jump to the administration's defense. Not only did fringe network One America News Network file a brief supporting the White House, but at least one pundit thought this was the best opportunity to own the libs just a little bit more:

That Whole Right-to-Remain-Silent Thing Can Start Whenever

What Happened: Post-midterms, everyone suddenly remembers that the President of the United States is under a special counsel investigation. And when we say “everyone,” we mean the President of the United States.

Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports

What Really Happened: This week has been a fascinating one for those who remember the fact that an ongoing investigation is examining whether the Trump campaign colluded with a foreign power to get him elected back in 2016. For one thing, people started to notice some strange social-media patterns:

Against this background, it’s not the greatest surprise that many are fearful for the longterm prospects of the investigation, especially considering that the President essentitallyadmitted that incoming acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker got the job because he’ll be able to kill the probe.

Thursday morning, the President did his best impression of someone who almost certainly has nothing to hide and certainly isn’t guilty of anything suspicious that could be uncovered by the Special Counsel investigation on Twitter:

It’s worth noting that the rant came not only after Trump had installed Whitaker as acting AG, but also after the President had met with his lawyers to respond to written questions from Mueller. Not that there's, uh, any connection between the two.

If It's Brexit, Definitely Don't Fexit

What Happened: Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the looming shadow of Brexit has gotten a little bit sharper this week, thus making the political future of the woman in charge of the entire country look far more uncertain.

Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports

What Really Happened: Remember Brexit? That whole “Britain voted to leave the European Union, which was a terrible decision, but the people who regretted it weren’t in charge, and now it’s just months away and no one knows how it's going to actually work” thing? Everyone was waiting for the United Kingdom to make a deal with the European Union that was, somehow, agreeable to both parties—something that was beginning to seem impossible, given that it hadn’t happened in the two years since the original vote.

That’s Jacob Rees Mogg, who went from wound up filing a motion of no confidence in his party’s leadership as a result. But maybe Rees Mogg—and yes, we all think he sounds like a Star Wars Imperial officer too—was an outlier, and not everyone in May’s Conservative party is so desperately unhappy...